Chengdu-Leshan-Chongqing

10-Day Chengdu, Leshan & Chongqing Luxury Private Tour

9 Nights · Premium All-Inclusive Experience for U.S. Travelers · 5-Star Hotels · All Meals Included · Private Transportation · Dedicated English Interpreter

Tour Highlights

• Heart of Southwest China, Relaxed Private Journey Discover the essence of Southwest China on a privately guided journey through Chengdu, Leshan, and Chongqing. This itinerary combines giant pandas, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient Shu culture, spectacular mountain-city scenery, and unforgettable local cuisine — all at a comfortable pace with zero mandatory shopping stops.
• Iconic Natural & Cultural Heritage Come face to face with beloved giant pandas, explore the mysterious 3,000-year-old Sanxingdui civilization, marvel at the 71-meter Leshan Giant Buddha, and traverse the dramatic karst landscapes of Wulong Three Natural Bridges. Discover ancient engineering marvels like Dujiangyan and sacred Taoist culture at Mount Qingcheng.
• 5-Star Luxury Accommodations Stay at world-class luxury hotels throughout the trip: The Ritz-Carlton Chengdu / The Temple House in central Chengdu, riverside HUALUXE Leshan, and The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square in the heart of the mountain city.
• All-Inclusive Premium Private Experience Travel in a private small group with a Chinese-speaking tour guide and dedicated English interpreter. The package covers all entrance tickets, scenic shuttles and cruises, private luxury vehicles, first-class high-speed rail between Chengdu and Chongqing, and three daily meals — all with no mandatory shopping stops.

Luxury Hotel Accommodations

• Days 1–4 · Chengdu: The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu / The Temple House ★★★★★ — Luxury hotel in central Chengdu
• Day 5 · Leshan: HUALUXE Leshan ★★★★★ — Luxury hotel with panoramic river views
• Days 6–9 · Chongqing: The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square ★★★★★ — Luxury hotel in the heart of Chongqing

What’s Included

• 5-star hotel accommodations throughout the journey
• Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring local specialties (spice levels adjustable)
• Entrance tickets to all listed attractions
• Scenic-area shuttle transportation and cruises where included in the itinerary
• Private luxury vehicle and professional driver
• Private transfers between Chengdu and Leshan
• First-class high-speed rail ticket from Chengdu to Chongqing
• Chinese-speaking tour guide + dedicated English interpreter throughout the journey
• No mandatory shopping stops
• Relaxed, privately arranged itinerary with flexible pacing

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrive in Chengdu · Welcome to the Land of Abundance

• Arrival & Private Airport Transfer: Arrive at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport or Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, where your private driver, guide, and English interpreter will welcome you. Transfer by private vehicle to your hotel.
• Afternoon: Take time to relax at the hotel and recover from your flight and jet lag. Later, enjoy a leisurely walk through Kuanzhai Alley (Wide and Narrow Alleys). Explore traditional courtyards and historic streets while learning about the architecture and everyday culture of old Chengdu.
• Dinner: Enjoy an elegant Sichuan-style welcome dinner. Spice levels can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
• Evening: Take a relaxing evening walk along Qintai Road and hear the famous love story of ancient Chinese poet Sima Xiangru and Zhuo Wenjun.
• Overnight at 5-Star Hotel in Chengdu.

Day 2 | Giant Pandas & the Mysteries of Sanxingdui

• Breakfast: Hotel buffet breakfast.
• Morning: Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding early in the morning, when pandas are typically most active. Learn about giant panda conservation, breeding and research programs, panda behavior and habitat protection. Your guide and interpreter will provide cultural and conservation background throughout the visit.
• Lunch: Private local lunch in Guanghan.
• Afternoon: Explore the Sanxingdui Museum. Step into the mysterious world of the ancient Shu civilization. Discover extraordinary archaeological treasures including bronze sacred trees, large bronze masks, mysterious ancient sculptures, and artifacts revealing a civilization that flourished thousands of years ago. Learn about one of China’s most fascinating archaeological discoveries and the mysteries surrounding the ancient Shu Kingdom.
• Dinner: Premium Chengdu hot pot experience. A divided hot pot with both spicy and mild broths can be arranged.
• Overnight at 5-Star Hotel in Chengdu.

Day 3 | Dujiangyan & Mount Qingcheng · Ancient Engineering and Taoist Culture

• Breakfast: Hotel breakfast.
• Full-day private excursion by private vehicle.
• Dujiangyan Irrigation System: Discover an extraordinary water-management system created more than 2,200 years ago. Learn how ancient Chinese engineers controlled floods and distributed water without relying on a conventional dam — a system that continues to function today.
• Mount Qingcheng: Explore one of China’s most important centers of Taoist culture. Walk through peaceful forests, mountain paths, and historic temples while learning about Taoist philosophy, traditional Chinese ideas about nature and balance, and the spiritual history of Mount Qingcheng.
• Lunch: Taoist-inspired wellness cuisine near Mount Qingcheng.
• Evening: Return to Chengdu.
• Dinner: Authentic Sichuan-style local cuisine.
• Overnight at 5-Star Hotel in Chengdu.

Day 4 | Cultural Chengdu · Poetry, Three Kingdoms History & Traditional Streets

• Breakfast: Hotel breakfast.
• Morning: Visit Du Fu Thatched Cottage, the former residence of Du Fu, one of the greatest poets of China’s Tang Dynasty. Explore peaceful gardens and traditional architecture while discovering the history and beauty of classical Chinese poetry. Continue to Wuhou Shrine. Step into the legendary world of the Three Kingdoms period. Hear the stories of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, the Kingdom of Shu Han, and themes of loyalty, strategy, and warfare in ancient China.
• Lunch: A refined tasting menu featuring classic Chengdu snacks and local specialties — presented in an elegant setting.
• Afternoon: Stroll through Jinli Ancient Street, a lively traditional street filled with local handicrafts, traditional architecture, Sichuan opera culture and colorful face-changing masks. Optional Cultural Experience: Enjoy an intimate Sichuan Opera Face-Changing Performance. Admission is included when selected as part of the itinerary.
• Dinner: Premium Sichuan cuisine.
• Overnight at 5-Star Hotel in Chengdu.

Day 5 | Chengdu → Leshan · The Giant Buddha

• After breakfast, check out and travel by private vehicle to Leshan.
• Lunch: Enjoy local Leshan specialties, including traditional Qiaojiao Beef, with milder flavors available upon request.
• Afternoon: Visit the Leshan Giant Buddha. Discover one of China’s most extraordinary ancient monuments — the enormous Tang Dynasty Buddha carved directly into the cliffside. Standing approximately 71 meters (233 feet) tall, it is the largest ancient stone Buddha of its kind in the world. Experience the site from two perspectives:
  1. Mountain Walk: Explore the historic site on foot and view the Buddha from close range.
  2. River Cruise: Take a boat ride for a spectacular panoramic view of the entire Buddha and surrounding cliffs. Your guide will explain the history, construction, religious significance, and remarkable engineering behind this monumental work.
• Late Afternoon: Enjoy a relaxed visit to Leshan’s old city and Zhanggongqiao Old Street.
• Dinner: Traditional Leshan-style dinner.
• Overnight at 5-Star riverside hotel in Leshan.

Day 6 | Leshan → Chengdu → Chongqing · Enter the Mountain City

• Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Travel by private vehicle back to Chengdu and board a first-class high-speed train to Chongqing. Upon arrival at Chongqing West Railway Station, your private driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
• Afternoon: Explore Jiefangbei & Shibati. Discover the contrast between historic Chongqing and the modern metropolis. Walk through old hillside neighborhoods and traditional architecture before emerging among the skyscrapers of central Chongqing.
• Dinner: Authentic Chongqing hot pot. A divided hot pot with spicy and mild broths can be arranged for guests who prefer less heat.
• Evening: Hongya Cave Night View. Experience one of Chongqing’s most iconic nighttime scenes. See traditional stilt-style architecture illuminated above the river while learning about the distinctive architectural traditions of the Bayu region.
• Overnight at 5-Star Hotel in Chongqing.

Day 7 | Chongqing Cableway · Mountain Streets & Panoramic Views

• Breakfast: Hotel buffet breakfast.
• Morning: Ride the Yangtze River Cableway, high above the Yangtze River on one of Chongqing’s most distinctive forms of urban transportation. Continue to the Shancheng Trail. Walk through the narrow hillside streets and historic neighborhoods of old Chongqing. Experience the city’s famous vertical landscape of hillside homes, stairways, traditional streets and river views.
• Lunch: Traditional Chongqing-style cuisine.
• Afternoon: Visit Eling Park. Enjoy panoramic views across Chongqing and its rivers while learning about the city’s modern history and its international connections during World War II. Late afternoon: Experience the famous Crown Escalator, one of Chongqing’s most unusual forms of public transportation.
• Dinner: Enjoy authentic Chongqing Xiaomian noodles accompanied by a selection of local specialties.
• Overnight at 5-Star Hotel in Chongqing.

Day 8 | Wulong Three Natural Bridges · UNESCO Karst Landscapes

• After breakfast, depart Chongqing by private vehicle for a full-day excursion to Wulong.
• Morning: Explore Three Natural Bridges. Discover a dramatic landscape of enormous natural stone bridges, deep sinkholes, cliffs, and karst valleys. Learn about the geological forces that created this extraordinary landscape over millions of years. The area also gained international attention as a filming location for Transformers: Age of Extinction.
• Lunch: Traditional Tujia-style cuisine in Wulong.
• Afternoon: Walk through Longshuixia Fissure Gorge, a spectacular narrow gorge surrounded by towering cliffs, waterfalls, and lush vegetation. Return to Chongqing in the evening.
• Dinner: Traditional Tujia-style dinner.
• Overnight at 5-Star Hotel in Chongqing.

Day 9 | Ancient Chongqing & Iconic City Views

• Breakfast: Hotel breakfast.
• Morning: Explore Ciqikou Ancient Town, a historic riverside town rich in traditional Bayu culture. Experience historic streets, traditional architecture, local customs, Chinese paper cutting, Sichuan embroidery and other traditional crafts.
• Lunch: Traditional lunch in the ancient town.
• Afternoon: Visit the Liziba Monorail Viewpoint. See one of Chongqing’s most famous modern sights — a monorail train appearing to pass directly through a residential building. It is a perfect example of how Chongqing’s extraordinary mountainous geography has shaped the city’s architecture and transportation. Continue to Nanshan Mountain.
• Evening: Nanshan One Tree Observation Deck. Take in a spectacular panoramic view of Chongqing as the city lights illuminate the mountains, rivers, bridges, and skyline.
• Dinner: Farewell-style dinner at a scenic mountaintop restaurant overlooking Chongqing.
• Overnight at 5-Star Hotel in Chongqing.

Day 10 | Relaxed Chongqing Morning · Departure

• Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out.
• Morning: Choose a relaxed final experience. Visit the Three Gorges Museum to discover the history of the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges region, and the cultural heritage of Chongqing and Southwest China. Alternatively, enjoy free time at your hotel or explore central Chongqing at your own pace.
• Farewell Lunch: Enjoy a final Bayu-style farewell lunch featuring regional specialties.
• Afternoon: Private transfer to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.
• Your Chengdu, Leshan & Chongqing journey comes to an end.

A Journey into the Heart of Southwest China From Chengdu’s giant pandas and mysterious ancient civilizations to the monumental Leshan Giant Buddha and Chongqing’s spectacular mountain skyline, this journey reveals a side of China where history, nature, food, and everyday life come together. With luxury accommodations, private transportation, personalized guiding, and a relaxed pace, the experience is designed to let you discover Southwest China comfortably and meaningfully. Discover Sichuan & Chongqing — where ancient culture, bold flavors, and unforgettable landscapes meet.